Yahya Sinwar: Hamas leader and October 7 mastermind killed in Gaza, Israel says

The Israeli military has confirmed that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who masterminded the 7 October attack on Israel last year, has been killed during an operation in southern Gaza.

In a statement, the spokesperson said the leader was killed by a southern command military operation in the southern Gaza Strip on Wednesday night. Verification of his body had been ongoing since then.

The death of Yahya Sinwar represents a major boost to the Israeli military and prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu after a string of high-profile assassinations of prominent leaders of the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah in recent months.

Israel’s Army Radio said the incident occurred during a ground operation in the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip during which Israeli troops killed three militants and took their bodies.

Sinwar was the chief architect of last October’s attack on Israel, which killed nearly 1,200 people and led to 251 more being taken hostage, and triggered the war inside Gaza. More than 43,000 Palestinians have been killed since.

Sinwar had thus far eluded detection, possibly hiding in the warren of tunnels Hamas has built under Gaza over the past two decades.

Key Points

• Israel confirms death of Hamas leader

• Netanyahu: Our task is not complete

• Who is the Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar?

• Biden, Netanyahu spoke after Hamas leader Sinwar's death, US official says

• Israeli military says it may have killed Hamas leader

Israeli military says it may have killed Hamas leader

16:40 , Tom Watling

The Israeli military has claimed that it may have killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in what would mark the latest in a string of high-profile assassinations against anti-Israel groups.

Below, you can read our full report on the alleged killing.

Israel says it may have killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in Gaza

Israeli security cabinet ministers told Sinwar is very likely dead, two officials say

16:40 , Tom Watling

Members of Israel’s security cabinet have been informed that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar is very likely dead, two officials with knowledge of the matter said on Thursday, according to Reuters.

Two of Israel’s broadcasters, KAN and N12 News also cited Israeli officials as saying Sinwar was dead.

Who is the Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who Israel may have killed?

16:42 , Tom Watling

Here we have an explainer on who Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar is and why Israel has been trying to kill him.

Who is Yahya Sinwar? The October 7 attack mastermind who Israel may have killed

Hamas yet to respond to reports of Sinwar’s death

16:45 , Tom Watling

Hamas is yet to respond to Israeli reports that the group’s leader Yahya Sinwar is dead.

Sinwar is believed to have been hiding in tunnels built by Hamas under the Gaza Strip since he masterminded the 7 October attack on Israel last year.

Israel notifies Pentagon about Hamas leader's potential death, official says

16:48 , Tom Watling

Israel has notified US military officials about the about the potential death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and passed along photos of what could be his dead body, a US defense official said on Thursday, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“We are awaiting updates from the Israelis,” the official said.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who is visiting Nato headquarters, has been informed and was passed a note about the matter during ongoing meetings with defense allies in Brussels.

Healey: I will not mourn the death of Sinwar

16:50 , Tom Watling

UK defence secretary John Healey has said he is awaiting confirmation of the potential death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar but has added that he “will not mourn” the man’s death.

“I for one, will not mourn the death of a terror leader like Sinwar - someone who was responsible for the terror attack on October 7th,” he said.

Healey says he and the government are conscious that it “triggered not just the darkest, deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Second World War, but that it’s triggered more than a year of conflict and an intolerable level of civilian Palestinian casualties”.

Hunger experts say the risk of famine in Gaza remains high

17:01 , Tom Watling

Hunger experts say the risk of famine in Gaza remains high

Here we have some pictures of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who is suspected dead

17:06 , Tom Watling

Photo allegedly showing body of Sinwar circulating online

17:17 , Tom Watling

A photo reportedly showing the body of suspected dead Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar is circulating on social media.

The Independent could not verify the photo - and reports of Sinwar’s death remain unconfirmed - but the body in the image bears resemblance to the Hamas leader.

For example, there is a mark near his left eye that is similar to the mole Sinwar is known to have in that area of his face.

The image is extremely graphic, showing a body half-buried under rubble with a severe head injury. The man is wearing a military vest and is surrounded by what appears to be Israeli soldiers.

We have decided not to show this image.

Hamas sources say indications suggest that Sinwar has been killed

17:30 , Tom Watling

Hamas sources have said to Reuters that indications from Gaza suggest that the group’s leader Yahya Sinwar has been killed in an Israeli operation.

There has, however, been no official comment from Hamas.

Israeli police examining dental, DNA evidence on Sinwar

17:43 , Tom Watling

Israeli police are examining dental images and DNA evidence to determine whether Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was killed by Israeli troops in Gaza, the police and military said In a joint statement on Thursday.

“As of now, one of the multiple necessary assessments has been completed for absolute confirmation. Dental images have been submitted to the police forensics lab, and DNA testing is currently in progress,” the police and military said in a joint statement.

Israeli foreign minister confirms death of Sinwar

17:45 , Tom Watling

Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz has confirmed the death of Yahya Sinwar, reports say.

Israel FM confirms Hamas leader’s death - statement

17:50 , Tom Watling

Below we have quotes from Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz confirming the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar

“Mass murderer Yahya Sinwar, who was responsible for the massacre and atrocities of October 7, was killed today by IDF soldiers,” Katz said in a statement.

“This is a significant military and moral achievement for Israel and a victory for the entire free world against the axis of evil of radical Islam led by Iran.

“The elimination of Sinwar opens the possibility for the immediate release of the hostages and paves the way for a change that will lead to a new reality in Gaza—without Hamas and without Iranian control.”

Gallant: Our enemies will fall by the sword

17:59 , Tom Watling

Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant has posted a message on X, formerly Twitter, following reports of the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.

He cites Leviticus 26, a passage from the Torah, that reads: “You will pursue your enemies and they will fall before you by the sword.”

In his own words, he adds: “Our enemies cannot hide. We will pursue and eliminate them.”

He attached a photo with red “X” marks over three pictures. One of them is blank. The other two show the faces of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif.

Nasrallah was killed in late September by an Israeli airstrike. Hezbollah is an ally of Hamas that has been firing at Israel since 8 October, the day after the Hamas attack on Israel.

Mohamed Deif, the co-mastermind behind 7 October alongside Sinwar, was killed by an airstrike on southern Gaza in July.

Israeli military confirms death of Hamas leader

18:02 , Tom Watling

The Israeli military has confirmed the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.

In a message on X, formerly Twitter, they wrote: “Eliminated: Yahya Sinwar.”

The Israeli military in a separate statement said Sinwar had been killed during a military operation in southern Gaza on Wednesday night.

Pro-Palestine protesters in Finland cheer for armed resistance

18:16 , Tom Watling

US, Israeli defense chiefs speak amid news of Hamas leader's death

18:29 , Tom Watling

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has just spoken with his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant, a US official said on Thursday.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, disclosed the call moments after Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz said on Thursday that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar has been killed.

Netanyahu: Our task is not complete

18:33 , Tom Watling

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is speaking publicly now for the first time after the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.

He says that Israel’s task is not complete and that Israel will continue with full force until all the hostages are returned. Around 101 hostages are still believed to be in Gaza of the 251 taken last October.

Netanyahu calls on Gazans to ‘free themselves from tyranny’ of Hamas

18:41 , Tom Watling

Israeli prime minister has called on Gazans to seize the opportunity to be ‘freed from the tyranny’ of Hamas.

“Hamas will no longer Gaza,” he said, speaking to mark the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. “This is the day after that now.”

Addressing Gazans, he said: “It is your opportunity to be freed from his tyranny. I am telling you now, all your leaders will be eliminated.”

Netanyahu says Israel’s fight goes on despite killing of Hamas leader

18:43 , Tom Watling

We have more from Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech.

“We have finished our accounts with him,” he said. “But the mission ahead of us has not been completed.

“We will continue until all the hostages are brought home. This is our commitment. It is a supreme commitment.

“[Yahya] Sinwar destroyed all your lives. He was hiding in a little dark cave and he was killed running away from our soldiers.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to thwart the actors of evil in this area.

“We have to continue fighting courageously fighting. We will win.”

Israel president commends killing of Sinwar

18:44 , Tom Watling

Israeli president Isaac Herzog has issued a statement regarding the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.

You can read it below.

Nato’s Rutte says on reported killing of Hamas leader Sinwar he ‘will not miss him’

19:01 , Tom Watling

Nato chief Mark Rutte addressed the reported killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar on Thursday, telling reporters, “If he has died, I personally will not miss him.”

Rutte spoke at a Brussels news conference a few minutes before Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz confirmed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar had been killed.

UK defence secretary John Healey expressed a similar sentiment a few hours ago.

Last known footage of Yahya Sinwar resurfaces as Israel says it has killed Hamas leader

19:16 , Tom Watling

Lebanon health ministry issues updated death toll

19:30 , Tom Watling

At least 2,412 people have been killed and 11,285 wounded in a year of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, the country’s health ministry has said.

US targets Yemen’s Houthi rebels with long-range B-2 stealth bombers

19:56 , Tom Watling

US targets Yemen’s Houthi rebels with long-range B-2 stealth bombers

Can the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar bring an end to Israel’s war in Gaza?

20:27 , Tom Watling

Can the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar bring an end to Israel’s war in Gaza?

Biden, Netanyahu spoke after Hamas leader Sinwar's death, US official says

20:48 , Tom Watling

US president Joe Biden spoke to Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the confirmation of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar’s death on Thursday, a US official said.

Biden and Netanyahu agreed that Sinwar’s death has created an opportunity to push for the release of hostages in Gaza and that they would work together to achieve that goal, Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.

Kamala Harris reacts to Hamas Leader Sinwar's death

20:56 , Tom Watling

EU's Von der Leyen says death of Hamas leader Sinwar 'significantly weakens group'

21:19 , Tom Watling

The death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar “is certainly significantly weakening Hamas”, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told reporters on Thursday when asked about reports of the death of the Hamas leader.

Sinwar was killed on Thursday, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz has said.

Starmer issues statement on Sinwar death

21:21 , Tom Watling

Prime minister Keir Starmer has issued a statement on the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.

“As the leader of the terrorist group Hamas, Yahya Sinwar was the mastermind behind the deadliest day in Jewish history since the Holocaust, as 1200 people were slaughtered in Israel,” he said.

“Today my thoughts are with the families of those victims. The UK will not mourn his death.

“The release of all hostages, an immediate ceasefire and an increase in humanitarian aid are long overdue so we can move towards a long-term, sustainable peace in the Middle East.”

US security adviser: work still needed to ensure Hamas is dealt long-term blow

21:25 , Tom Watling

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Thursday that work needed to be done to ensure the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar “actually does deal the kind of long-term blow to Hamas that all of us would like to see.”

Sullivan, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s objectives had not been reached as hostages taken by Hamas last year were not yet home.

Killing of Hamas leader Sinwar dealt fatal blow to Hamas, France says

22:00 , Tom Watling

The killing of Yahya Sinwar by Israeli forces dealt a fatal blow to Hamas, France’s foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Thursday, adding that a page must now be turned to work towards peace in the region.

“A page has to be turned now for the region and its path towards peace”, Barrot told LCI television, adding that diplomacy alone would allow for ending hostilities.

This blog is now closed.

22:19 , Tom Watling

You can read our full report below.